Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUNSw3BNMb
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyAebC041Y
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76kHhx2auV
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrKSwtzB1P
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckDyUtiOG5
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0oFhzp5Py
The Cliffside184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ67lFghgD
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY4SoaKpwC
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKsseu0s6I
The path ended at a sheer cliff.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoRu7FfUuf
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9gbKzCv1P
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mIBe6ZG7W
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUV3cSRNb7
Gone?184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rccyJsgxu
No. No way.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt9JwGvtCT
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwKiWktejP
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcR7IoDwpi
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPlUOqCYAI
The Ocean's Secret184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PWPAq0ceK
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78KYcGCDVX
She wasn't running out of air.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pqEzgNoH5
Her lungs didn't burn.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHzZLfJLfr
Instead, she felt... at peace.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxS4Fdg8Nz
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI18tlJT4Hb
A glimmer in the sand below.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1ssALd8gN
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKiO0yxA6e
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo5tLO734x
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXhWTcX9ZW
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJaO7lFuJA
The cave.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6sebTTb1K
Maddie's Jealousy184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKA820z38G
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXeroMd76N
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlb55HXOQE
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi9bLClQ7M
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzsOF8OIem
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPOm8DB69m
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYuQVpBkgP
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatZKCBQsc3
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk549oNnIoj
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysJcUTn9LL
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxBntRTEfA
And Maddie was getting sick of it.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthK4JsNWpO
Nick's Realization184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy12ceA8Du
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg2lKG9Hzs
His hands curled into fists.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9trkvBFDQ
She was somewhere safe.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacUlxRLAfX
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JA0qwQEfE
His stomach clenched.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop0HGlQs40
"The cave."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy5nng8r70
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hpmyd5z4v
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0lSeuLTkR
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG0xpnEbfe
Nick hesitated.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNXhbgzEwF
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0PfizqOkc
He didn't let himself finish the thought.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHp1wSB47l
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVaPXFPccb
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9l0K8kTCK6
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQxxipYXs5
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwXtAafzjM
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYur6ZJSYP
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49Iu1hhdK0
He didn't stop.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIlbpCxzoo
Didn't look back.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7hLEM4qBB
Because every second he wasted here...184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3S7XxjVIz
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrXl3kCCyD
184Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xqmUv1XuK
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns216.73.216.58da2
and then Add to home screen.